Antiviral methods using human rhinovirus receptor (ICAM-1)

Abstract

A method for substantially inhibiting initiation or spread of infection by rhinovirus or Coxsackie A virus of host cells expressing the major human rhinovirus receptor (ICAM-1), comprising the step of contacting the virus with a soluble polypeptide comprising the HRV binding site in domains I and II of ICAM-1; which polypeptide is capable of binding to the virus and reducing infectivity thereof; the contact being under conditions which permit the virus to bind to the polypeptide.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method for substantially inhibiting initiation or spread of infection by human rhinovirus of host cells in tissue susceptible to such infection, comprising the step of contacting the virus with a soluble polypeptide comprising domains I and II of ICAM-1; which polypeptide is capable of binding to rhinovirus of the major receptor class and reducing infectivity thereof, said contact being under conditions which permit said rhinovirus to bind to said polypeptide. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said polypeptide comprises domains I and II of ICAM-1 plus one or more members selected from the group consisting of domain III, domain IV and domain V. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein said polypeptide comprises one or more of the following sets of domains from the human rhinovirus receptor (ICAM-1): 
       I and II  
       I, II, and III  
       I, II, III, and IV  
       I, II, III, IV, and V.  
     
     
       4. A method for substantially reducing initiation or spread of infection by Coxsackie A virus of host cells expressing the major human rhinovirus receptor, comprising the step of contacting the virus with a soluble polypeptide comprising the HRV binding site in domains I and II of ICAM-1; which polypeptide is capable of binding to Coxsackie A virus and reducing infectivity thereof, said contact being under conditions which permit said Coxsackie A virus to bind to said polypeptide.